The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
I continue with my book log - cannot wait to tell the world about the literature gems that I have discovered.
So this one is probably the best book I have read in the year 2007 - hands down! Although it is very different to my usual style of book choice (I could say I was caught off guard at the book shop), yet very arresting!
The book is by a woman about women and probably for women. Four Chinese families immigrate to the USA circa 1950s. There are old-school Chinese mothers and their all-American daughters. Good to know that there are more dysfunctional families out there :/ I wouldn’t certainly call it “a generation conflict”, but it is about adaptation, the assimilation and about changing with the world around you.
It is funny to follow their reaction to everything because of the different levels of their adaptation. Also, I suppose I experience similar stuff myself as an immigrant and a daughter; yet it is true that “you can take the girl out of China but you can never take China out of the girl”.
The only thing is that the number of main characters is 8 (plus there is supporting cast!), and it is hard to follow (Chinese names are extra confusing).
Chinese people are bizarre, too. All those centuries of in-breeding have got them to the level of a very different culture and lifestyle; incredibly superstitious, fanatically religious, strictly hierarchial society, unwilling to change - or to adapt any more than they have to. All said, the book does leave you with an elated smile and all questions answered - and nothing else needed!
Please leave any comments here.
Originally published at eugenia.co.nz.